Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 13, Brew.
By: Briana Ryan
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Previewing the mayoral Democratic primary for the nation’s largest city
- Six candidates are running in the Democratic primary for governor of New Jersey on June 10
- On the Ballot breaks down the Wisconsin Supreme Court election
Previewing the mayoral Democratic primary for the nation’s largest city
Ten candidates are running in the Democratic primary on June 24 for New York City mayor. Six candidates—incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (D), Brad Lander (D), Zohran Mamdani (D), Zellnor Myrie (D), Jessica Ramos (D), and Scott Stringer (D)—lead in polling and fundraising.
According to The New York Times’ Emma G. Fitzsimmons, the “race has focused on several major themes, including public safety, affordability and potentially disqualifying behavior from multiple candidates, with the mayor’s five-count federal indictment on corruption charges front and center.” The U.S. Justice Department dismissed all charges against Adams on Feb. 10.
City & State New York’s Annie McDonough wrote, “The 2025 mayoral race will be one of the first tests for how New York Democrats confront a rightward shift in a reliably blue city.” The chart below shows how President Donald Trump (R) has performed in the city in the last three presidential elections.
Let’s take a closer look at the leading candidates
Adams has served as mayor since 2022. He previously served as Brooklyn Borough president and represented District 20 in the New York Senate. Before serving in elected office, Adams worked as a police officer and retired as a captain.
Lander has served as the city’s comptroller since 2022. He previously served on the New York City Council and was the director of two non-profit housing organizations.
Mamdani has represented District 36 in the New York Assembly since 2021. He previously worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor.
Myrie has represented District 20 in the state Senate since 2019. He previously worked as a lawyer.
Ramos has represented District 13 in the state Senate since 2019. She previously worked in communications for various unions and the city government.
Stringer previously served as the city’s comptroller, Manhattan Borough president, and represented District 67 in the state Assembly. He also worked as an aide for U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and was the volunteer leader of an affordable housing group.
Michael Blake (D), Cleopatra Fitzgerald (D), Deirdre Levy (D), and Whitney Tilson (D) are also running.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) may also join the race. As of Feb. 11, he has not filed to run in the election. According to Spectrum News NY1’s Bobby Cuza, “Cuomo will likely have to make a decision by Feb. 25, the start of the signature-gathering process required of candidates for the primary.”
Democratic strategist Trip Yang said if Cuomo joins the race, he “would start with a commanding lead built mostly on his high name recognition because he has served in statewide office here for over a decade.” On Feb. 7, Emerson College Polling released a poll showing Cuomo ahead of the other candidates.
A look at what’s next
This election will be the second in which the city will use ranked-choice voting (RCV). The system allows voters to rank up to five candidates, and if their first candidate is eliminated, their vote will be transferred to a different candidate. Voters can still pick only one candidate or rank less than five. This system is only used in the primary.
Adams won the 2021 Democratic primary after eight rounds of voting. The image below shows how the vote totals changed over the eight rounds. For more information on the 2021 Democratic primary, click here.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican nominee in the Nov. 4 general election.
Six candidates are running in New Jersey’s June 10 gubernatorial primary
In the Feb. 12 Daily Brew, we told you about the Republican primary for governor of New Jersey. Today, we’ll look at the Democratic primary, in which six candidates are running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy (D). The six candidates running in the June 10 primary include Ras Baraka (D), Steve Fulop (D), Josh Gottheimer (D), Mikie Sherrill(D), Sean Spiller (D), and Stephen Sweeney (D).
Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Dan Cassino said, “It’s really wide open for any of the candidates, and that’s really unusual, to have a whole bunch of candidates who have a plausible path forward.” On Jan. 23, Emerson College Polling released a poll showing that the majority of Democrats are undecided.
Let’s take a closer look at the candidates
According to Politico’s Ry Rivard and Daniel Han Gottheimer, Sherrill, and Sweeney are “aiming their campaigns at the political center.” Meanwhile, Baraka and Fulop “are running to the left—and away from the state’s political establishment.” Rivard and Han wrote that Spiller is viewed as a wildcard in the race.
Baraka has served as Newark’s mayor since 2014. He previously served on the Newark City Council and worked as a high school teacher and principal.
Fulop has served as Jersey City’s mayor since 2013. He previously served on the Jersey City Council and worked in finance. Fulop also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Gottheimer has represented New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District since 2017. He previously worked as a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton (D) and a Microsoft strategist.
Sherrill has represented New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District since 2019. She previously worked as a lawyer in private practice and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of New Jersey. Sherrill also served in the U.S. Navy.
Spiller is a science teacher who has been president of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) since 2021. He previously served as Montclair’s mayor and on the Montclair City Council.
Sweeney is a former ironworker and New Jersey senator representing District 3. During his tenure, Sweeney served as Senate president for 12 years. He also served on the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
A look at what’s next
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican nominee in the Nov. 4 general election.
On the Ballot breaks down the Wisconsin Supreme Court election
In this week’s episode of On the Ballot, our host Geoff Pallay talks to Wisconsin Public Radio’s Anya van Wagtendonk about the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel are running in the April 1 general election for a 10-year term on the court. Incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, one of the court’s liberal members, is retiring.
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections are officially nonpartisan, but candidates often take stances on specific issues and receive backing from the state’s political parties during their campaigns. The state’s Democratic Party endorsed Crawford and Schimel is the former Republican attorney general.
In the April 2023 election, Judge Janet Protasiewicz won an open seat, defeating Daniel Kelly 55.4% to 44.4%. This created a 4-3 liberal majority, shifting ideological control of the court for the first time in 15 years. This election will decide which ideology has a majority on the court.